James DeGale and Nathan Cleverly have abandoned plans to spar each other again – because it was getting too competitive. The Frank Warren fighters shared more than 30 rounds in April ahead of massive fights on May 21 at London’s O2 Arena.
But a further week of sparring has been called off with both boxers deciding discretion, as the old saying goes, was the better part of valour.
“At the moment, James is a dangerous animal,” said Cleverly, who takes on Jurgen Braehmer in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-heavyweight title showdown.
“We just couldn’t risk any more sparring because we didn’t want to take the edge off before our fights on May 21.
“It’s the hardest sparring I’ve ever had, and remember, I sparred with Joe Calzaghe and Enzo Maccarinelli when they were both world champions.”
DeGale, who features in a British and Commonwealth super-middleweight match up against Groves, echoed those sentiments, saying: “Nathan is definitely Britain’s next world champion and I can’t ever remember having harder sessions.
“Nathan just never stops throwing punches. He was the perfect preparation for Groves because I had to work a lot harder in sparring than I’ll have to against Ugly Kid.”
DeGale’s trainer Jim McDonnell oversaw much of the sparring.
And he ranks among the best he has ever seen.
“I would have gladly paid to go and watch this in an arena,” he said.
“In James and Nathan you have got two of the best young fighters in the country right now, and believe me, there was fireworks when they sparred.
“There were times when it was better than some world title fights that I have seen, it really was that good.
“Both lads are good friends and have a lot of respect for each other, and before sparring started they would be chatting away and having a laugh.
“But as soon as that first bell went, they would be in there throwing leather like there was no tomorrow.
“When these boys get in the ring all that respect goes out of the window, and they are at each other’s throats.
“I’d have loved to have seen another week of sparring, but I want James to save his best for George Groves rather than waste it on Nathan Cleverly.”
Ticket for This Is It are priced at:
£500 – Ringside
£300 – Floor
£200 – Floor
£150 – Floor/Tier
£100 – Tier
£80 – Tier
£50 – Tier
To purchase tickets go to:
THE O2
+44 (0) 844 856 0202 or www.theO2.co.uk
Disabled booking line: +44 (0) 208 463 3359
SEE TICKETS
+44 (0) 871 620 7054 or www.seetickets.com
Graham Earl Signs Michael Grant – Fights Youssef Al Hamidi On May 7th
Former World Champion turned promoter Graham Earl has signed one time English title challenger Michael Grant to his rapidly growing stable of thoroughbred boxing prospects.
Grant is set to make his maiden outing under the Graham Earl Promotions banner this coming Saturday, at Graham’s ‘Redemption Day’ double title headed event at York Hall in Bethnal Green. Grant’s opponent has been named as tough Dewsbury, Yorkshire based Syrian Youssef Al Hamidi.
On making the announcement Graham Earl said, “Michael’s a good fighter, he’s done his apprenticeship. We know he’s a very good fighter and should be right up there challenging for more titles, the only reason he isn’t is that he doesn’t get to fight that often.
That will change now, so it’s down to him to show everyone that we made the right decision in signing him.”
Grant then spoke briefly on both signing with Graham Earl Promotions and Saturday’s showdown with Al Hamidi, “I’m really pleased that Graham has taken an interest in me.
It means so much to me as Graham is obviously going to get me the fights that I need to get and want this year. I’m really, really happy to be with Graham.
This is a now or never for me, I’ve had some time out and now I’ve really got to get out there and make a point.
Youssef is very experienced and has been in with some good names, he’s never been stopped, so he’s a really strong and durable fella. He’ll be a
good come back fight for me.
I’m confident I’ll get the win, I’m much stronger at Lightweight and I expect to be getting a lot of stoppages at this weight.
I’m not saying I’m one hundred percent going to stop Youssef, he’s very strong and never been stopped in fourty odd fights, but I feel so much stronger at this weight and his record gives me more of an incentive to go for it to make a big statement on my return.”
Michael Grant, against Youssef Al Hamidi features on the Graham Earl promoted ‘Redemption Day’ event which is co-headlined by fellow TKO Boxing Gym mate Leon ‘Solid’ Williams who defends the BBBofC Southern Area Cruiserweight title against Danny Couzens at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 7th May 2011.
Co-headlining will be the eagerly anticipated Paul Morby-Daniel Cadman rematch for the Southern Area Super Middleweight title.
In addition to Michael Grant, Graham Earl has lined up a seriously strong undercard featuring some of the Country’s most exciting young warlords.
Former American Basketball star Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshunrinde will be hoping that his return to York Hall will be more satisfying than his previous outing there.
Oshunrinde was clearly robbed of his first win on British soil when his shortened fight with Jahmaine Smyle was declared a technical draw, following the fight being stopped, in the first round, due to a serious cut over Smyle’s right eye.
On May 7th Oshunrinde will be facing Sam Couzens, brother of Danny who faces Leon Williams.
Graham also has his exciting Light Welterweight Terry Holmes out for his third professional bout, against a yet to be named opponent. Holmes has proved to be nothing short of sensational on his two previous outings and Graham has big expectations for the heavy hitting nineteen year old from Stevenage.
Another big hitter, Belfast’s Joe Hillerby, will also be getting his third outing. Hillerby, who debuted in October 2010, has made quite an impact on the scene. No surprise really, after all he is an all action heavy hitter with a knockout finish, as proved on his debut against Gavin Putney, which lasted just 43 seconds!
His second fight, against super tough Ryan Clark, lasted the full course and turned out to be one of the most action packed fights of the night at Graham Earl’s excellent ‘Capital Punishment’ event back in January.
Lowestoft Featherweight Craig Poxton will be looking to get back to winning ways, following his loss to Grant’s opponent on Saturday Youssef Al Hamidi a year ago.
Making their professional debuts at ‘Redemption Day’ are Belfast’s Mark Ginley, Heavyweight Scott Whyley whilst former Armed Services boxer Sam Standing will be joining his TKO Boxing Gym mates Williams, Grant and Oshunrinde on the show.
Tickets for the Graham Earl Promoted ‘Redemption Day’ event at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 7th May 2011 are priced £35 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside).
For tickets call: 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or call in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.
Pacquiao vs. Mosley Live on PPV — ONLINE
LAS VEGAS, NEV. (May 3, 2011) – Top Rank announced today that the May 7 Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley world welterweight championship event at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas, will be available live on both pay-per-view television and online. The four-bout pay-per-view card, produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®, will be available online for $54.95 while boasting interactive features unique to the digital platform through NeuLion’s technology. The enhanced and unique viewing offers a four-shot, multi-angle dynamic player that will allow viewers to interact and feel an enriched experience. The online pay-per-view is exclusive to U.S. viewers.
“This pay-per-view offering will complement our current distribution which appeals to sports fans who are engaged in digital platforms on a daily basis. Sports viewing has entered a new frontier and Pacquiao vs. Mosley will be the pioneer for the boxing world,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.
The following websites will be offering the Pacquiao vs. Mosley four-bout pay-per-view live stream: www.toprank.tv, www.sports.SHO.com, www.cbs.com and www.sports.yahoo.com. Select cable and satellite TV systems will also be offering the pay-per-view live stream. Viewers should check with their local providers.
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The highly anticipated final episode of the four-part FIGHT CAMP 360°: Pacquiao-Mosley debuts This Friday! May 6 on SHOWTIME, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will also be broadcast the following day on CBS, beginning at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.
The 12-round Pacquiao-Mosley World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, Tecate and MGM Grand.
Remaining closed circuit tickets, priced at $50, are on sale and available at all Las Vegas MGM Resorts properties.
The Pacquiao vs. Mosley pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. For Pacquiao vs. Mosley fight week updates, log on to www.sports.SHO.com or www.toprank.com.